THE AESTHETICS OF FAUX LEATHER MANIPULATION TECHNIQUES: INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO CREATING ARTWORKS INSPIRED BY OMANI FEATURES

Abstract The study aims to present and analyse a collection of artworks that were designed and implemented by the students of "Technical Works" course in the Art Education Program at the University of Nizwa. In this course, students design and implement some artworks through various materials, techniques and themes. The current research highlights one of the course projects, which is (Artworks made of faux leather inspired by Omani features). The researcher/professor followed a new methodology in following up the progress of the students’ artworks from the pencil sketch to the finishing, unlike other projects where the instructor continuously manages the progress through the guidance, in this project the students depended on self-evaluating. Inspiring the Omani features in artworks designing, as: architecture such as forts and gates - arts such as pottery, and cultural heritage such as jewellery and costumes and others. Many techniques for manipulating the faux leather were utilized: such as weaving, braiding, stencilling, padding and others. The significance of the current study represented in documenting the experiment, the results of which may be feasible as a guiding reference when teaching similar art and design courses. The proposed Artwork Progress’ Scale which was followed during the experiment approved a remarkable positive impact in producing artworks with a high degree of aesthetic values. The study adopts the descriptive and analytical approach to identify: 1) some of the most prominent Omani features, 2) faux leather manipulating techniques, 3) a brief analysis of the aesthetics of selected artworks' samples. The results of the experiment in the current study indicated that preparing an initial vision of the artwork and keeping evaluating the work through a comprehensive form or self-evaluating scale which contains the expressive, aesthetic, and constructive dimensions of the artwork greatly helps the student/artist in creating the final artwork successfully, the artworks could be a nucleus of an emerging entrepreneur project